The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "shipping" ...
-
Meningitis Outbreak
When an unprecedented outbreak of fungal meningitis began last fall in Tennessee, The Tennessean reacted with aggressive and highly interactive coverage that has led the nation. Before other media realized the significance of the outbreak, which has sickened more than 650 people in 19 states, The Tennessean was already analyzing the regulation of specialty pharmacies and digging into the contracts and connections of the New England Compounding Center, the Massachusetts firm suspected of shipping contaminated steroids responsible for the illnesses. As of today, the outbreak has killed 40 people nationwide, 14 of them in Tennessee. More than a hundred more are still sick. We quickly reported problems associated with New England Compounding Center, lag times on informing victims and regulation slip-ups in the drug compounding industry that allowed companies to operate outside of the law.
Tags: Health; meningitis; New England Compounding Center; steroids
-
Should Washington Become The King of Shipping Coal to China?
SSA Marine, a company specializing in marine terminal operations, signed a contract with coal producer, Peabody Energy, to ship 24 millions metric tons of coal. The terminal raised concerns for enviromentalists who opposed shipping to China, especially in light of Washington's 2011 legislation not to burn coal for its own power.
Tags: Coal; SSA Marine; China; Washington; Peabody Energy
-
"Cruise Ships Dodge Rules"
This investigation takes a look at the claims of cruise ships boasting "green" cruising and whether or not it can truly reduce the "impact on the environment." Despite the claims, reporters found that ships are playing the system and continue to dump harmful waste along their cruise routes, in areas where the rules are "less stringent."
Tags: Canada; Straight of Juan de Fuca; cruise ships; waste disposal; Port of Seattle; Carnival; Royal Caribbean
-
Blood Trade: Memphis and the Mexican Drug War
A man in Memphis plays a crucial role in funding a violent Mexican drug cartel that ships cocaine and marijuana around the U.S. In an unprecedented investigation, the reporter travels with Mexican sources involved in the drug cartel, giving American readers the chance to see the Mexican side of the story.
Tags: Mexico; drug cartel; drug trade; drug war; Memphis
-
Shut Down and Shipped Out
The series examines the trend of factory closings in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan and finds that the closings resulted in work being shifted to other states or countries.
Tags: factory closing; jobs; manufacturing; trade agreement; outsourcing
-
"Shut Down & Shipped Out"
This three-day series examines the "trend of factory closings" through Ohio and Michigan starting as far back as 2000. Reporter Joe Vardon found factory closings accounted for more than 20,000 jobs lost throughout Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Much of the work has been shipped to other states or overseas. Vardon finds these closings to be as much "a cause as they are an effect" in the recession that has ravaged the U.S.
Tags: recession; factories; job loss; unemployment
-
A Quiet Hell
This story didn't focus on one specific chemical plant; instead it focuses on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). After analyzing data for individual pollutants that were emitted during non-routine operations, a number of details were revealed. Some of these details are that "more than 20 million pounds of pollutants were emitted", TCEQ infrequently enforced the laws, some penalties were never finalized, and "the plants with the most violations paid the least percentage of their fines".
Tags: pollution; chemical plants; emissions; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ); Houston Ship Channel; pollutants; oil industry; gas industry; air; politics; atmosphere
-
Who's in the Driver's Seat at Motor Vehicles
The online traffic school, lowestpricetrafficschool.com, had exclusive advertisement in Florida's Official Driver's Handbook through the Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles department. The traffic school was also in charge of printing the booklet, offering it free on line but charging taxpayers for shipping. WTVT found that Fred Dickinson's, the executive director of the DHSMV, wife was a lobbyist for the National Safety Commission which operates the traffic school. She later resigned her position when Gov. Jeb Bush criticized the Dickinsons for the conflict of interest.
Tags: motor vehicles; conflict of interest; state government; National Safety Commission; Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; traffic schools; lobbying; Fred Dickinson; Sherry Dickinson; driver's handbook
-
The Buried and the Dead
This series raises questions about Texas' oversight of the gas pipeline industry. The reporters found that state regulators often ignore safety violations because of unethical relationships with the companies involved. Despite several recent fatal pipeline accidents, and federal and industry warnings, conditions in the state have not improved.
Tags: gas; safety; state government; utilities; Texas Railroad Commission
-
Torture in Maine's Prison
Inamtes at the Maine State Prison's Supermax facility are brutally tortured. The reporter interviewing the prisoners was banned by the prison, and shipped the prisoner who was the major source to an out of state facility.
Tags: beating; jail; security guard; abuse; department of correction; smuggle; Warren, Maine; Deane Brown